COUNTERPOINT: Significant plus for Spryfield

Re: the June 19 letter, “Shadowy move by council.” The headline implies council did not follow appropriate policy for the Herring Cove Road development application. The public participation process for this application was identi-cal to all others — with the exception that two public information meetings were held instead of one.

The original plan was for a seven-storey building. Based on residents’ concerns about the massing and scale, the application was revised. The public did not support this either, and the applicant responded to the community concerns with a third design that was scaled back considerably. Instead of seven storeys, it proposed three storeys in the rear (38 feet to 40 feet in height vs 35 for the adjacent R2 zone) and four storeys on Herring Cove Road.

Council also approved amendments to protect neighbouring residential uses by removing zoning on other properties that allowed inappropriately scaled development rights. The approved building is close to the street, has underground parking, wetland protection, a non-disturbance area, and significant landscaping. This new building will eliminate a large area of unattractive vacant land. The approved building will take up 14 per cent of the lot area. If townhouses were constructed instead, they’d take up 40- 50 per cent of the land and there’d also be 18 driveways, which would have a much greater impact on the area.

Spryfield is a vibrant and growing community, and this development will provide housing options for new residents. Under council’s regional plan and five-year review, it is designated as an urban district growth centre.

There are many amenities in the area: directly across the street from this new development is a grocery store, a liquor store and a gas bar and there are churches and a community police office next door. Various commercial stores, restaurants and services are nearby and it is directly on a major transit route. There have been significant streetscape improvements, park upgrades and recreation centre improvements in the area.